IT is the Martial Arts for Business

We express our sincere gratitude to the West Russian Kyokushinkai Karate Organization and its president Viktor Belov as well as one of its most successful sportsmen in the international arena today, Ilya Karpenko, for participation in the photo session.

CROC is a long-term partner of the Russian National Karate Kyokushinkai Team which specializes in one of the most difficult, full contact and spectacular martial arts. During this partnership, we found out that business and martial arts share a similar philosophy. Karate combines physical vigor with profound mental development, continuous self-improvement, and sharing of experience and today’s information technology is also a powerful weapon that allows companies to compete successfully. CROC arms its customers with IT and works as a sparring partner, addressing any market challenges together with customers, shoulder to shoulder and back to back. Thus, IT is the martial arts for business, with each of its aspects and rituals having a deeper meaning.

The ancient sword handover ritual symbolizes the recognition of the warrior’s absolute mastery and readiness to address any challenge. Similarly, CROC arms its customers with cutting-edge technology to ensure business efficiency and sustainability, reduce the cost of products and services, and improve their competitive edge.

"One becomes a beginner after one thousand days of training and an expert after ten thousand days of practice," was a popular phrase of Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushinkai Karate. Both in business and karate, only perfect techniques enable one to prevail. CROC offers advanced technology that is proven ’in the battlefield’ and helps customers optimize performance in order to compete as effectively as possible.

Jō techniques are among the basic fighting skills. Both in business and martial arts, people and their skills matter a lot. HR managers help to ensure a company has a solid foundation via thorough recruitment and the adaptation of new employees. Advanced information technology can help companies identify the cream of the crop and, furthermore, create a unique internal ecosystem that contributes to talent fostering and the securing of new market share.

Two seasoned warriors defending ’back-to-back’ could successfully defeat a greater number of combatants. Likewise, CROC offers a complete range of information security services. While our team’s expertise is not disclosed to the general public, it will be convincing for information security experts and specialists.

Tameshiwari is a technique for measuring mastery in martial arts and involves the striking of solid objects without any protection. Masutatsu Oyama used to say, "Karate without tameshiwari is like a tree without fruits" and the same principle can be applied to a business that does not leverage ample opportunities powered by modern information technology.

Tobi Yoko Geri or a jumping side kick is an efficient means of attacking an opponent due to its power and speed and has approximately a five-times higher impact than hand strikes. However, body balance is crucial for the success of such an attack. Likewise, a poor balance of resources can ruin an IT project, while the efficient use of human, time and financial resources, including relationships with partners, is a key driver of success.

With wind and fire wheels, a warrior could both defend and attack in close combat. Telecom systems also allow for close online communication with all of a company’s counterparties and allow for tasks to be performed anywhere even faster than the wind blows.

According to the legend, a katana or a curved blade is not just a weapon but also comprises a warrior’s soul. Similarly, the soul of IT infrastructure is computing systems used for high-speed data processing and reliable data storage. Today, breakthrough computing technologies ensure business flexibility that could not even have been imagined 10 years ago.

In addition to its direct purpose, a nunchaku is also a marvelous tool to train coordination. Today, information technology provides logistics companies with ample opportunities for process arrangement, while other businesses can leverage IT to reduce logistics costs and become less dependent on certain carriers.

Shuriken is a powerful throwing weapon which often had a great impact on the outcome of a battle. CROC completes several thousand projects each year, including some federal-scale implementations. In addition to reflecting on technology aspects, in each project we are committed to improving the customer’s competitive edge and equipping businesses with the best capabilities available in the IT market.

Viktor Belov is President of the West Russian Kyokushinkai Karate Organization and holder of the 5th dan black belt. Achievements: Prize-winner at the Australian Championship 1998; Open weight champion at the Oyama Cup 1997; Winner of the Africa Championship 1996; Winner of the Open Championship in the Republic of South Africa in 1996; and Absolute Kyokushinkai Karate Champion of Russia in 1995.

Ilya Karpenko is a world-class athlete and holder of the 3rd dan black belt. Achievements: Winner of the American Tameshiwari Championships 2013 and 2014; 3rd place at the World Championship 2013; Winner of Japan Tameshiwari Championship 2012; Runner-up at the European Championship 2012; Winner of the Russian Championship 2011; and Winner of the Russian Tameshiwari Championships 2006 and 2009.